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ALPACA GENERAL MEDICINE
LECTURE
Healing Springs Animal Hospital
107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103
www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HealingSprings
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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About Dr. Jenkins:
Education & Academic Achievement
Obtained her bachelor's degree from St. Andrews Presbyterian College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Earned her doctorate at Virginia Tech (Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine) in 1998. At Virginia Tech, Heather was the recipient of the Dr. Robert F. Fernbaugh Memorial Scholarship based on academic and achievement merit while at Virginia Tech, and she was the recipient of the veterinary college's most prestigous scholarship, the Clarence Gertrude Leach Memorial Scholarship, based on academic achievement during her doctorate education.
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist Dr. Jenkins obtained her certification in veterinary acupuncture from the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida. This involved exams, a peer reviewed written case report, and a year of completing courses in small animal acupuncture, equine acupuncture, mixed practice veterinary acupuncture, and European veterinary acupuncture. Dr. Jenkins now offers veterinary acupuncture to clients to compliment the modern western medicine techniques that we use primarily. She has found veterinary acupuncture particularly useful in cases that have a neurological component.
Therapy Dog Work and Dog Training
Dr. Jenkins enjoys volunteering as a therapy dog handler at nursing homes, Special Olympics,Operation Purple, and crisis shelters. She has dogs registered with the Pet Partners and with Hope Animal-Assisted Crisis Response. Dr. Jenkins is an evaluator for Pet Partners and for Hope - testing therapy dog-handler teams - evaluating them for readiness for dog-therapy work or crisis response therapy work.
Dr. Jenkins has competed and placed in both UKC and AKC obedience and rally competitions. With the help of friend Stephanie Burnette, Dr. Jenkins teaches dog training at Healing Springs Animal Hospital.
Camelid Veterinary Medicine Dr. Jenkins has done considerable post-graduate work in camelid medicine (llamas and alpacas). Most recently, she volunteered at an alpaca research facility high in the mountains of Peru. There she had the opportunity to do more camelid reproductive work than most American vets do in a lifetime. In particular, the research station is gathering information to develop protocols for the care of pregnant and newborn camelid. [Find 200+ photos of this on our Facebook page.]
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Dr. Jenkins is certified with the United States Department of Agriculture as a wild life rehabilitator with a specialty in turtles. Law prohibits wildlife rehabilitation from taking place as a paid veterinary service. In her personal time, Heather takes turtles that have been hit by cars or suffering other maladies, rehabilitates them in her personal time, and returns them to their natural habitat.
Areas of Practice:
Heather's favorite areas of veterinary practice are internal medicine, diagnostics, chemotherapy, acupuncture, equine reproduction / horse breeding, alpacas, and llamas.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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Contents
The Basics...................................................................................................4
Immunizations ............................................................................................5
Internal Parasites
P. Tenuis ..................................................................................................... 6
Haemonchus ............................................................................................... 7
Nematodirus ................................................................................................ 8
Eimeria macusaniensis and coccidiosis ...................................................... 8
External Parasites ......................................................................................11
Teeth ............................................................................................................12
Pre-Purchase Exams ..................................................................................13
Breeding ......................................................................................................15
Birthing ........................................................................................................16
Neonatal Care .............................................................................................20
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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THE BASICS:
One of the most vital things Alpaca owners can do is learn the basics of a physical exam. This ensures
that one can have a precise conversation with a veterinarian while discussing the care of their animal.
These skills are not meant to replace a veterinary exam but help one have a discussion about what may
warrant a visit or what may be managed over the phone.
Temperature: Temperature is the easiest way to gauge the health of your alpaca. A thermometer is
inserted rectally. Normal for adults and crias runs about 99.5-102 degrees. Temperatures should be
taken if an alpaca is off feed, straying from the rest of the herd, coughing, or showing any signs of
sickness. Ideally, a cria’s temperature should be taken daily to gauge for signs of sepsis or illness.
Temperatures for crias run the same as an adult’s. Keep in mind that direct sun, ambient temperatures,
and colors of the fleece play a role in the animal’s body temperature.
Heart rate: This has to be accomplished by using a stethoscope. There are no pulses to feel and
palpating through the chest wall is not ideal in alpacas. Heart rate should be 60-90 beats per minute.
Heart rates will be elevated during episodes of colic, uterine torsions, pain, dehydration, sepsis, and
fevers.
Respiratory rate: This is determined by watching the animal breath. Normal respirations are 10-30
breaths per minute. There is a wide range based on the animal’s response to environmental factors and
stressors. In addition to rate, one most look at character of the breath. Is it labored, fast, slow, with
nostrils flaring or any respiratory noises etc? Alpacas are obligate nasal breathers. They do not do well
with open mouth breathing.
Gum Color: Looking at the mucus membranes in the mouth is another great way to assess health. If the
gums are not pigmented black, one can use the gums to assess circulation and estimate pack cell
volume. Gums should be pink in color and moist. Pale gums are a sign of stress or anemia. Red gums
are an indication of heat stress, sepsis, or dehydration.
Scleral Color: By gently pushing the globe of the eye into the socket one can see the sclera. The sclera
is the supportive structure of the eye. It should be a pinkish white color. Blood vessels should be readily
visible in the sclera. If the sclera is pale, that could indicate an overwhelming parasite infection. If the
sclera is red and inflamed, that could indicate a severe infection or sepsis.
Fecal Output: All feces from an alpaca should be pelleted and fall freely on a dung pile. Causes for
concern are clumping of the stool, diarrhea, or an alpaca that stands consistently at the dung pile.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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IMMUNIZATIONS:
Vaccines are very important in any alpaca herd management. The most important vaccines we are going
to use on the east coast are Clostridium Perfringens C and D, Clostridium Tetani and Rabies. There are
other vaccines that can be used in alpacas for diseases such as leptospirosis and E. coli. For this area,
the only vaccines of concern are for Clostridium C, D and T and Rabies vaccine. Other vaccines can be
included in your herd management if deemed appropriate.
Crias: If dam was vaccinated 30-60 days prior to birth, the cria should receive:
12 weeks C, D and T
16 weeks C, D and T and Rabies
20 weeks Rabies
Then booster of a yearly schedule
Crias: If dam was not vaccinated 30-60 days prior to birth the cria should receive:
4 weeks C, D and T
8 weeks C, D and T
16 weeks C, D and T and Rabies
20 weeks C, D and T and Rabies
Adults: Adults should be vaccinated yearly with C, D and T and Rabies.
Pre-Parturition: There are two schools of thought on pre-parturition vaccines. One comes from Dr.
Evans and is derived from the horse industry. That is to vaccinate the dam with C, D and T 30 days prior
to parturition.
The Dr’s from Oregan State University, Drs. Smith, Timm, and Long, recommend vaccinating the dam 60
days prior to parturition with C, D and T. The reasoning behind their recommendation is they are
concerned about the chances of increased abortion due to the stress of being restrained and vaccinated.
It is important to remember that all vaccines should go under the skin over the ribs, on the chest wall
behind the elbow, or on the back of the rear legs. Use a 21-22 gauge needle. Once the needle is
through the skin, always draw back with the plunger looking for blood before depressing the plunger.
Even though we have been using these vaccines for many years, they are still considered extra-label use.
The only time I would recommend an 8-way Clostridial vaccine is if you are in a snake bite prone area.
The 8-way containts extra antigens to diseases that alpacas do not experience. There is no reason to
have all that extra antigen stimulating the immune system.
There is work being done in Peru on Clostridium Perfringens A. Dr. Walter Bravo believes that
Clostridium Perfringens A is responsible for neonatal deaths in Peru. To date there is no vaccine
available in the United States.
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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INTERNAL PARASITES:
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis: Meningeal worm or brain worm of deer. P. Tenuis is an aberrant
migration of a normal gastrointestinal parasite in white tailed deer. Since alpacas are not this worm’s
normal host, the worms have a tendency to migrate to the spinal cord and brain of the alpacas - resulting
in many or few neurologic deficits in the affected animal.
P. tenuis is a threat to an alpaca herd year round. The infected larvae stage is highly resistant to
temperature extremes and can winter quite well in a slug or a snail. Deer control is not a solution that
warrants discontinuing the ivermectin injections.
Alpacas should be started on ivermectin at one month of age. Ivermectin is still considered safe at any
stage of pregnancy.
The interval between injections should never be more than 35 days. This is the time it takes the worm to
migrate from the intestines to the spinal cord. The worm is protected from the ivermectin while it is in the
stomach and when it gets to the spinal cord. A good management tip is to do your herd health work on
the first Saturday or Sunday of every month. This will help you stay under the 35 day interval.
There is no risk of P. Tenuis developing a resistance to ivermectin. The eggs never hatch if they are
successfully laid, so there is never a risk of resistance.
Dosage chart for ivermectin:
Pounds ML/CC
20 0.25
40 0.5
80 1.0
120 1.5
160 2.0
200 2.5
Source: Dr. Stephen Hull, PhD
Treatment for P. Tenuis
Fenbendazole (Panacur or Safeguard) at 50 mg/kg body weight orally daily for 5 days
Flunixin (Banamine) 1 mg/kg body weight subQ, twice daily for 3 days, once daily for 3 days
DMSO given in the vein or by mouth may act as a potent anti-inflammatory. Use up to three
days.
Vitamin E supplement 500 to 1000 units orally daily for 14 days
Ivermectin 1cc/75lbs every other day or every day for three treatments. There is some discussion
about the value of ivermectin because it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier thus rendering it
ineffective.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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The best defense is a good offense. Devote one day a month to ivermectin administration to
prevent meningeal worm.
Haemonchus: Internal Parasites are now a big concern for alpaca owners. What has made intestinal
parasites such a threat to our industry is the amount of resistance we are experiencing with Haemonchus.
Haemonchus contortus is a very prolific parasite laying >100,000 eggs per day. Their life cycle is short -
about two weeks. Haemonchus is especially prolific in warm, moist environments. The eggs of
Haemonchus are very hardy. They can overwinter easily.
Parasite control has been a hot topic for many years. We have to be creative in our parasite
management. There are several ways to help manage parasite numbers without the use of anthelmintics.
Feed hay and grain off the ground. Move feeding troughs and water troughs daily.
Clean pastures daily.
Rotate pastures after mowing for hay.
Control stocking densities by limiting the number of animals per field.
Use Guinea hens or chickens to control egg dispersion.
Deworm any alpaca that scores high on a FAMACHA System.
Avoid whole herd dewormings.
Use fecals as a diagnostic tool to help determine who needs to be dewormed or not.
Co-graze with Equine. The Equine will
eat the parasite eggs which will die in
the horse’s stomach.
Don’t mix age groups.
The development of the Famacha system
started in South Africa by Dr. Francois Malan.
He developed a system that coordinated the
relationship between hematocrit and lower
eyelid color. He developed this for sheep in
2001 and it has been used in small ruminant
species since. Much research has been done
in the United States demonstrating a
correlation between eye color, hematocrit, and
fecal egg counts. Dr. Lisa Williamson has
done research projects on Haemonchus using
the Famacha system while studying the
effectiveness of different dewormers. The
FAMACHA system only works on Haemonchs
contortus. It does not give a firm conclusion
about other parasite infestations.
(Photo Credit: Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist.)
The highlights of Dr. Williamson’s research project are 20% of the animals on your farm are generating
80% of the eggs. Mortality is rarely seen until the egg counts reach >1000-3000eggs/gram. Alpacas can
still walk around with a pack cell volume of 17% or less but will crash at a PCV of 5%. An alpaca with a
high FAMACHA score will also have a low body condition score. Parasite resistance to newer
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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anthelmintics on the market (which are very few to none) will happen within a year. By deworming
selective animals in the herd we are hoping to create a refugia of naïve parasites that are not developing
a resistance leading to a population of “stupid” worms to dilute out the “smart” worms. These are the
population of worms that are in egg or larvae form on pastures or in non-dewormed animals that are not
genetically creating a resistant parasite.
RED
FAMACHA SCORE
1
PACK CELL VOLUME
31%
FECAL EGG COUNT
139 eggs/gram
2 28% 284 eggs/gram
3 27% 567 eggs/gram
4 22% 1238 eggs/gram
PALE 5 16% 4047 eggs/gram
Dr. Williamson’s recommendations are to treat alpacas with a FAMACHA score of 4 and 5. Animals that
score a 3 should be treated on a herd by herd basis. Her recommendations are to check each animal
every 2 weeks during warm and moist periods and less frequent when risk of transmission is low.
The list of anthelmintics that are effective against Haemonchus is getting smaller. Right now the
recommendations are to use Panacur/Safeguard or Moxidectin orally. The ivermectin family has not
been useful for years now. Pyrantel Pamaote has an abysmal fecal egg count reduction rate.
Panacur/Safeguard is rapidly becoming ineffective at decreasing egg counts. The moxidectin dose that is
most effective is 0.4mg/kg. It is very safe, and the sheep drench works very well. Do not use the
injectable form of Moxidectin.
Nematodirus: Nematodirus is a nasty, big parasite that is 33% larger than any other worm egg. It can live
through the winter making it a very easily transmissible worm that is hard to kill. This parasite infestation
wreaks havoc on the gastrointestinal system, causing severe irritation and diarrhea leading to profound
weight loss, unthrifitiness, and anemia. The good news is this parasite is easily treated with a regimen of
Panacur/Safeguard, Valbazen, or Synanthic 22.5%. I treat the affected alpacas with a dose of dewormer
on two consecutive days, wait 7 days, and repeat for two consecutive days.
Dosages are:
Panacur/Safeguard 9cc/100lbs
Valbazen 6cc/100lbs
Synanthic 22.5% 4cc/100lbs
Eimeria macusaniensis and coccidiosis in alpacas: Coccidiosis is a disease of all ages. It affects
crias and adults. In Peru they have found E.mac passing through crias that are only 5 days old. The
problem with coccidia is the one celled organism tears up the gut causing mucosal damage leading to
diarrhea, colic and death. E. mac is of particular concern since the organism likes to hide deep in the
mucosa layer of the gut and does not shed till the damage is done. E. mac can be in the body from 31-90
days before shedding. Further work on coccidiosis and E. mac has led to conclusions that damage in
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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the small intestines is allowing for excessive clostridial overgrowth creating disease. Those farms that
work to control coccidiosis have lower neonatal death rates to Clostridium A.
E. mac doesn’t like to float. It needs sheather’s solution(1 lb of sugar dissolved in 1 liter of water with one
drop of formalin) with a very dense specific gravity. Centrifugation of the feces is a must to try and pick
up E. mac. A PCR test is being developed to diagnosis E. mac in feces. A PCR test will allow us to
detect shedding DNA in the feces before we see eggs on fecals. This will help with early treatment of the
disease allowing us to minimize the damage to the intestinal lining.
As for treatment, there are a couple of options. According to Dr. Cebra from Oregan State University
CVM, the mainstay of treatment is still Corid (Amprolium). He recommends a dose of 10mg/kg by mouth
once daily for 5 days. E. mac will still shed for 3 weeks after kill. He does not recommend that we put
Corid in the drinking water.
Ponazuril/Marque is another possibility. It is very expensive. A single dose is effective in healthy
animals. Debilitated animals may need to be treated once daily for 3 days to be effective. Ponazuril
does not interfere with the alpaca developing an immunity to coccidia, but it may be the result of some
facial deformities in crias.
Baycox/toltrazuril is showing promise. It is a product out of New Zealand. Along with Ponazuril, these
drugs can affect later stages of the parasite and cause a more rapid decrease in oocyst shedding.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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External Parasites
Mites are the most common skin parasites in alpacas. There are three kinds of mites that can afflict
alpacas. There are Sarcoptic, Chorioptic and Psoroptic. We are going to talk about Chorioptic mites.
Sarcoptic is no longer as common and is easily treated using ivermectin. Psoroptic is a reportable
disease and very rarely seen. Chorioptic mites are very superficial mites that feed on dead cells and
dander. Their common locations are between the interdigital spaces of the toes. They can be found at
the elbows, belly, groin and ears. They are not as itchy as Sarcoptes, nor are they contagious to
humans. However they are easily transmitted from one alpaca to another. There seem to be a fair
number of carriers in a herd. More often than not, the carriers have no lesions or very few. The ones that
are the most sensitive to the mite will start with crusty lesions between the toes and work its way up the
leg. These crusty lesions are usually harboring a yeast or bacterial overgrowth as well making this a
multifactorial problem.
The way to diagnose Chorioptic mites is to take a skin scaping from multiple animals in a herd. The best
place to skin scrape is on the medial surface of the lateral toe. The skin scrapings have to be deep. It is
best to keep scraping until there is a “strawberry” present. The best scrapes will happen in animals with
very few lesions in their interdigital space. Badly affected animals do not seem to be terribly diagnostic
on skin scrape.
The best course of treatment is Frontline Spray. A farm has to spray the whole herd to get rid of the mite.
If there are any animals left untreated, the problem will return. Treat all animals on the farm over two
weeks old once every 3 weeks for 4 treatments. Apply the Frontline spray liberally to all 4 feet from the
fetlock down to the toes. If there are any visible hair-loss lesions on the alpaca, treat those as well. On
the asymptomatic alpacas, you only have to treat the feet.
A permectin 2 premise spray has been suggested to use in the barn to treat the surfaces. Adult mites
can survive for 70 days off the host in the environment. Unfortunately, since these mites are surface
dwellers, it is easy for them to fall off the animal.
If necessary, treat all bacterial and fungal secondary problems with the appropriate medication such as
Naxcel, Iodine scrubs, or antifungal shampoos.
Follow up is necessary to make sure the problem has resolved. Skin scrapes need to be done on 10% of
the herd 1-2 months after the last treatment. Carry Frontline spray with you to shows. Make sure you
spray down your equipment and spray all the feet of new, leaving and returning animals. Take random
skin scrapings every 6 months if this is an on-going problem or a heavily traveled group.
Source: Dr. Ed McCaslin, Promised Land Farms
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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TEETH
The canines are considered formidable weapons in the intact males. They develop when a surge of
testosterone causes the male to reach puberty. Males will develop fighting teeth between 22-24 months
of age. These canines rarely occur in females. These weapons were created to help adult males fight.
These teeth should be removed using gigli wire. These teeth have a long curve root making complete
extraction difficult. The canines/fighting teeth should be checked on all intact males at shearing. Usually
geldings do not grow fighting teeth once the first set has been removed.
This is a male alpaca with no canines/fighting teeth.
There is a new method to help incisors meet the dental pad of the upper jaw without trimming them
straight across the top. We are going to give Dr. Daniel Mora credit for developing this method. He
lectured on his method at the International Camelid Health Conference for Veterinarians 2012. We are
seeing more alpacas with improper dental alignment in the incisors. This decreases their ability to graze.
The incisors are meant to meet the dental pad of the upper jaw. This correct alignment allows the teeth
to grow normally with the alpaca. The dental pad of the upper jaw keeps the teeth at the correct length.
The picture above has good incisor and dental pad alignment. When the 3rd
incisor pushes on the 2nd
incisor, the 2nd
incisor pushes on the first incisor pushing it away from the dental pad and out through the
upper lips. When the animal tries to graze, the teeth are not effective at tearing the grass.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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The Mora Method allows for separation of the 3 incisors. This stops the incisors from pushing each other
forward and out of the mouth. We also will trim the top of the incisor and put a 45 degree angle on the
teeth to allow the dental pad of the upper jaw to exert its downward pressure keeping the teeth the proper
length. This downward pressure also helps the pulp recede so we can improve alignment if needed in the
future.
He recommends avoiding juveniles and waiting for all the adult incisors to be in place. It may take a
couple of tries to get the teeth where they needed to be. It takes about 3 months for the gaps in the teeth
to close. If the teeth are not aligned properly the procedure can be repeated. Once the teeth are
corrected they typically stay corrected.
Pre-Purchase Exams
Pre-purchase exams of the males
are very important. During an
exam we look at the male’s
conformation, teeth, fiber, testicles
and penis. It is a good idea to
measure the scrotum. Increase in
scrotal size is directly linked to
increase in pregnancy rates. At
puberty, roughly 2 years old, a
breeding male alpaca should have
a scrotal size of 3.3 by 2.2 cm.
The adhesions to the penis break
down with sexual maturity and
allow the penis to be extended.
This should happen by two years
of age. The testicles can also be
ultrasounded to look for cysts in
the testicles and scar tissue that
would decrease fertility rates. If
Pre-Breeding Soundness Exam on a Male.
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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one has serious questions about a male’s fertility, we can also do a semen collection and look at motility
and morphology.
A pre breeding exam of the female.
Pre-breeding and pre-purchase exams of the females are very important. It is important for the
perspective buyer to look at the reproductive organs of the female one is about to purchase or for the
owner to decide which maiden female they want to add to the breeding herd. The exam consists of a
vaginal speculum exam to determine if the hymen is gone, if the cervix is red and inflamed indicating an
infection, and if there is any discharge coming from the cervix. If there is a persistent hymen, it should be
removed by the evaluator. The uterus and ovaries should be examined to determine if there are any
abnormalities (for example: missing uterine horns, small ovaries, fluid in the uterus, etc). The mammary
gland should be examined. There should be four teats of normal size. There should be no extra teats,
evidence of skin disease, or large teats. As always, a physical exam is important to look at conformation,
teeth, and fiber characteristics.
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
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BREEDING
Female alpacas reach breeding age at 15-18 months when they are greater than 90 pounds. Alpacas
experience follicular waves that are in constant motion. As one wave is ending, another wave is starting.
Alpacas are induced ovulators. A female will only ovulate if there is a mature follicle and sexual activity.
Ovulation in an alpaca requires penile stimulation of the cervix, a chemical secreted by the semen, and
the orgling of the male to release a hormone (LH) from the brain. In alpacas, ovulation usually occurs 24
hours after mating. Unlike most mammalian species, alpacas are receptive to males as long as there are
follicles present. This allows us a unique way to gauge if an alpaca is pregnant or not.
Pregnancy in an alpaca can be determined in three ways: a spit test, progesterone test, or an ultrasound.
Once a follicle has ovulated, the estrogen levels in the female will reduce, leading to progesterone
production. Progesterone tells the female that she is pregnant. This renders her nonreceptive to the
male. Her defense for the males’ advances is to spit at the male. Since females are induced ovulators
and essentially “always” in heat. The spit test is a good first start to determine pregnancy.
Progesterone tests are another way to determine pregnancy. This is a blood test usually sent to BET
labs. This test measures the level of progesterone in the female’s blood. Progesterone levels >1 ng/ml
are consistent with pregnancy, <1ng/ml the female is not pregnant, and > 2.5ng/ml the female is
considered very pregnant. This test is best done 15-20 days after removal of the male. This test has a
>95% accuracy rate. The disadvantages are expense, blood collection, and time to get results.
Ultrasonography is a good, immediate pregnancy determination that can be done 28-60 days after
removal of the male. Rectal ultrasound is a quick way to determine if the female is pregnant. Another
advantage of ultrasound is to look for twins. However twins are very rare.
Gestation for alpacas and llamas is roughly 335-355days. Some alpacas have carried their babies for a
full year. There is never really any reason to induce a camelid to give birth. Camelids know what they
are doing and will give birth when ready.
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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BIRTHING
The good news about alpaca birthing is that 95% of camelids complete the process on their own with little
help from us. Most alpacas have their babies from first thing in the morning until about 2pm. An evening
birth may indicate an at risk cria. There are three stages of labor in an alpaca. Unfortunately, there are no
reliable signs to help a producer know that their perspective mom is about to give birth. The first stage of
labor is the preparatory phase. This can last 1-6 hours. This is when the fetus is sending signals to the
mom’s uterus to start cervical dilation and preparing for delivery. The second stage of labor is the
expulsion stage. This is when the fetus is presenting itself through the pelvic canal. This is typically
when the producer knows their moms are in labor by the presentation of feet and a nose. This stage
should be completed in less than 60 minutes. Ideally, the fetus will be out in less than 30 minutes. The
last stage is the placental expulsion. That can happen quickly or take up to 4-6 hours.
The equipment that a client should have on hand is clean water, ivory liquid soap to clean the perineal
area, sterile lubricant (such as KY jelly), tail wrap using rolled gauze, towels to help dry the baby, and
sterile sleeves or gloves. Exam gloves will work as well. The exam gloves are not sterile but will help
decrease any potential infections.
The normal presentation of a cria should be two extended feet and a nose. Usually, if a producer sees
this presentation, the process will continue without problems. Occasionally, the shoulders will get stuck in
Healing Springs Animal Hospital 107 Nuckolls Curve Rd Galax, VA 24333 (276) 236-5103 www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com
17 | P a g e
the birth canal and a little manipulation of the front legs by moving one leg forward and then the other leg
forward in a “Nordic track motion” will help the shoulders pass through the birth canal by decreasing the
diameter of the shoulders. This can be accomplished without entering the birth canal and causing any
risk of infection.
Other common dystocias are the legs not fully extended or the elbow locked. These presentations are
usually corrected by the “Nordic track motion” described above. Once the legs are extended, the
shoulders should pass easily. This move also does not require one to enter the birth canal - minimizing
the risk of infection.
A leg back scenario is when a producer can only count one leg and a nose. This means that the leg is
back in the birth canal. The leg could be deep in the birth canal anywhere against the cria. The leg has
to be corrected and pulled into the birth canal so that the cria can be delivered vaginally. This procedure
can be difficult given the length of the cria’s legs. The leg has to be manipulated in the uterus increasing
the risk of infection and trauma to the cervix and uterus. Care must be taken to reposition the leg without
damaging the uterus.
A breech is when only the hindquarters of the baby are coming through the birth canal with the legs
tucked against the body. This presentation usually results with a female in labor for a long time and
getting into trouble. Since alpacas don’t give reliable signs of impending labor one has to pick up on the
alpaca being in labor. Unlike cattle that have long tails, the tail of a cria is not long enough to pass
through the birth canal and through the lips of the vulva. The breech presentation requires veterinary
intervention. It is very difficult to correct this presentation. The cria will always be delivered rear first,
which does lead to some respiratory problems. A breech presentation can also be with the rear legs
extended. The cria can be pulled with the rear legs extended. Care has to be given to ensure a speedy
delivery to prevent respiratory problems. Some crias can be delivered backwards without assistance.
A neck back presentation is also a very difficult presentation that will require veterinary assistance. If a
producer only sees two feet without a nose, do not pull on the front legs. The nose has to be sitting on
the front legs for there to be a green light that a producer gets to assist with the birthing process. If the
neck is back and the front legs are pulled, the neck bends further back into the uterus making it more
difficult to get the head and neck repositioned. This presentation is fixed by pushing the feet and legs
back into the uterus to open up some space in the birth canal. The head is then found and brought up
into the birth canal (easier said than done). Once the head is in the birth canal, the legs are brought into
the birth canal and the baby is delivered vaginally. This requires a large amount of manipulation of the
cervix and uterus. Care has to be taken to protect the dam’s uterus so she maintains her reproductive
status.
Uterine torsions are not very common. The alpaca presents with colic like signs in the last two months of
her gestation. Unlike cattle who can maintain a uterine torsion until they go into labor without any pain,
alpacas will be very painful, and torsions must be corrected immediately. This is accomplished in one of
two ways: reducing the torsion without surgery by rolling the animal or surgically detorsing the uterus.
Once the uterus is detorsed, it rarely twists again. It is very rare that uterine torsions happen with labor in
alpacas.
As a general rule, alpaca producers have 15 minutes to correct the a bad position. Give thought to your
veterinarian’s location and schedule when attempting to correct a mal-position. You may want to give
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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your vet a head’s up to the potential problem before you start your manipulations. Your vet may be able
to walk you through repositioning on the phone or make plans to head your way.
General guidelines for correcting dystocias are:
Wash hands and alpaca’s perineal area with ivory soap. Kissable clean!!!
Use lots of lubricant
Move whatever body part is taking the most space and impeding any repositioning
Cover the toes with your hands to protect the uterus
Fully extend the limbs to narrow the shoulders
Rotate the cria to a 45 degree angle to maximize the pelvic diameter
Pull down and back
Manipulate baby between contractions
Pull gently with contractions and rest when she is not contracting
A placenta is considered retained when it has not been expelled from the uterus 24 hours after birth. This
problem requires veterinary assistance. Do not pull on the placenta because one can actually evert the
uterus if too much pressure is exerted on the placenta.
Example of a retained placenta.
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NEONATAL CARE
My name is Monday. I was born to a mom with no milk.
The best summary for an evaluation of a cria comes from Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care, B. Smith, K.
Timm, and P. Long Pg 62. Bixby Press Inc. 1996.
The following chart is reprinted with permission from Dr. Long.
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The first 24 hours of life are always the hardest and the most difficult especially for the first time producer.
The best approach is to take a deep breath and let nature take its course. The most important things to
remember to do are to dip the navel and watch for the passage of meconium.
Crias are born with <100mg/dl of IgG. The cria must nurse soon after standing at hour 2. The cria
actually does not produce its own immune system until 3 months of age. The mom is actually producing
IgG in their milk for 7 months post-parteum. The colostrum has a large amount of antibodies in it and
then a lower level is produced over the nine months. Dr. Walter Bravo has discovered that crias nurse
every half hour for the first 2 hours after standing then at hour 4 of life they nurse every hour for 9 hours.
After day one, the average cria suckles 10 times a day from 7am till the evening. This is a pattern that
lasts for the first 12 days of life. In Peru, the alpacas will sleep over night and do not allow their babies to
nurse. This information helps us by giving us a plan to supplement nutrition in babies that are unable to
suckle on their own or are orphaned. Rules for colostrums supplementation are 20-30 mls every half
hour for the first 2 hours after standing then 23-30 mls every hour after hour 4 for 9 hours. This actually
helps in antibody absorption. Crias that are given large amounts of colostrums at once do not absorb
well. A lot of the antibodies will pass in the meconium.
IgG levels are important and should be measured 24 hours after birth. The magic level is 800mg/dl. We
use the horse industry as a standard when we picked that level. A large number of crias with good
producing moms will have IgG levels of >2000mg/dl. The ability to produce good immunity is hereditary
and should be considered when picking breeding stock.
Colostrum supplements are available. Many people use goats as a decent source of colostrum. It has
been reported that crias can only absorb 8% of the IgG in cow colostrums. No studies have been done
on goat colostrums. If a dam has no milk and there is some alternative species colostrums available, go
ahead and use those sources. However, a plasma transfusion will be required, especially if it is a valuable
animal.
Plasma transfusions generally are done in the first week of life. We use plasma shipped from Triple J
Farms. Our typical approach is to pre-medicate the cria with a little banamine. We push a catheter
through the right side of the cria at the paralumbar fossa and let the plasma gravity feed into the
peritoneal cavity (belly). IgG is a single chained antibody that has great solubility. It can distribute into
the tissues rapidly from peritoneal administration.
If needed, there are several options for milk replacement in crias. Many commercial milk replacers have
been used that are for cattle, sheep and goats. Wombaroo Milk Replacers - www.wombaroo.com.au
Wombaroo is a company that makes milk replacer specifically for alpacas as well as other exotic species.
Canned goats milk or goat milk mixed 50:50 with water share camelid milk characteristics. One can use
homogenized milk fortified with vitamin A and D. Norm Evans would suggest adding 1 oz of live culture
yogart daily. Peru has success with feeding straight unpasteurized Brown Swiss milk. We have tried
feeding orphaned crias Brown Swiss milk here in the states, and they seem to do very well on it.
Powdered milk replacers are a cause for concern. There are a number of crias that have developed
spiral colon blockages after being fed powdered milk replacers. For alpacas, powdered milk replacers
are usually mixed more dilute, for example goat milk replacer is mixed 1:4 with water to help prevent
spiral colon blockage.
Alpaca General Medicine Lecture Dr. Heather Jenkins, CVA June 2012
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Weight gain is very important to assess the health of a cria. The average alpaca should gain between
0.25-05lbs per day. This growth rate should continue for the next 60-90 days. Recommended days to
weigh crias are day 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days of age. One should expect the cria to be double its birth
weight by day 30. If one notices stagnation in weight gain or a weight loss, a physical exam should be
done to determine the malady.
The most common problems in neonatal crias that I see is failure of passive transfer secondary to
prematurity and an inability to stand. At birth, a cria is hypoglycemic and needs to eat rapidly. Every
effort should be made to get the cria’s body temperature around 98-100 degrees F. Once the
temperature is within normal limits we can start feeding the cria. We can use a bottle or a feeding tube to
get nutrition into the cria.
There are some common genetic defects such as a cleft palate, choanal atresia, atresia ani, and umbilical
hernias that can be diagnosed at the cria health check when collecting blood for the IgG. The first three
congenital abnormalities are life threatening and fatal. An umbilical hernia, which is a separation of the
belly wall at the umbilicus, will usually close with age.
Meconium impactions are fairly rare but easily fixed or prevented. A cria with a meconium impaction will
not suckle in a timely fashion or may attempt to suckle but “falls off the teat” rapidly. If a producer notices
a cria straining to defecate or a cria that has not produced any meconium, then they need to give an
enema. I would avoid chemical enemas in favor of a warm water enema with a drop or two of lubricant
and ivory soap. The warm water enema seems to produce the same results without the absorption of
extra phosphorous.
Once the baby is on the ground and standing, we need to look at the dam. It is very important that she
pass her placenta. Again, if the placenta is still in the uterus at 24, hours veterinary intervention is
warranted. The producer needs to catch the female after the cria is out. He/she needs to check all four
teats of the mammary gland. They are going to dislodge any waxy plugs in the teat ends and check for
colostrum. Not having to remove a waxy plug will help the cria drink its first meal easier. The first milk
needs to be thick, sticky and yellow in color.
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The placenta and Dr. Walter Bravo
The placenta should be laid out on the ground. He/she is looking for tears in the placenta, and
abnormalities in the placenta such as bruising, plaques, discoloration. This will help us determine if we
need to address any uterine abnormalities in the dam to facilitate her breeding back or if the cria may be
at risk.
The vulva needs to be inspected. One is looking for tears, excessive bruising, or any excessive bleeding
that may require veterinary intervention. Most vulva tears will be managed medically and will not be
sutured until they have a chance to develop some granulation tissue. Any excessive bruising or bleeding
may help us determine if there are any complications to be addressed prior to breeding. A speculum
exam may be required before rebreeding if there were any complications with the birth or any changes to
the placenta or vulva to head off any problems and aid in conception. Alpacas have a phenomenal ability
to involute their uterus and return their perineal areas to normal rapidly after birth. Very few need
assistance. Within 10-14 days post birth, owners may notice a mucoid plug or pool of mucus on the
ground. This is a normal occurrence. It is a final cleansing of the uterus preparing it for the next cria.